Typhoons stunted agri sector in Q1
MANILA, Philippines—The growth in Philippine agricultural production slowed to 0.67 percent year on year at P198.8 billion in constant prices during the first quarter of 2014, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This was slower than the 3.1 percent recorded in the same period of 2013, which the PSA said “could be traced to the devastating effects of typhoons that hit the country last year.”
PSA data show that, in terms of current prices, output expanded by 10.8 percent to P386.7 billion.
The PSA reported that a contraction in the fisheries subsector pulled down expansion in crops, livestock and poultry.
The crops subsector, which represented 54 percent of total output value, also grew slower at 1.5 percent from 3.1 percent as it settled to P108.15 billion.
Palay farmers alone, who turned out 18 percent of total output, posted a slower 3.3-percent increase pegged at P36.39 billion.
“The damage caused by Typhoons ‘Santi,’ ‘Vinta,’ and ‘Yolanda’ that visited the country in the last quarter of last year translated to a decelerated growth in crop production,” the PSA said.
Poultry growers, accounting for 14 percent of total output, produced 1.3 percent more with P28.75 billion.
In particular, the PSA said an increase of stock in commercial broiler farms in South Cotabato and Sarangani was the result of sustained high demand for chicken.
Also, livestock production— 15 percent of total — improved by 1.2 percent to chalk up P30.68 billion.
According to the PSA, there were increases in the number of animals slaughtered in accredited abattoirs as more local stocks were disposed of in the Ilocos region and in Calabarzon.
The agency said that in Western Visayas, more animals were processed as raisers opted to dispose of draft animals due to limited grazing areas.
In Misamis Oriental in Mindanao, a similar upturn was observed after a new slaughterhouse became operational during the quarter.
In fisheries, which accounted for 16 percent of nationwide output, the harvest decreased by 3.2 percent to reach P31.2 billion.
“The heavily silted areas in Davao del Sur led to the stoppage of operation of marine pen operators during [the first quarter],” the PSA said.
The agency added that some fishpond operators in Iloilo have not yet recovered from the effects of Yolanda, while insufficient capital and lack of inputs adversely affected operations of aquaculture farms in Samar.
In the first quarter, average farmgate prices jumped 10 percent for most products including palay, corn, copra, garlic, hogs, goats, ducks, chickens, tilapia and seaweed.
